When Matthew Stafford spoke candidly about brain trauma, concussions in NFL - "It's an important conversation to have"

Matthew Stafford has seen and felt it all. He has experienced the ultimate high that is winning a Super Bowl, as well as the ultimate low, posting a record of at least 10 losses multiple times.

In his 16th season in the league, he is one of the most well-traveled players in the NFL, having had his fair history of concussions and brain trauma. In Aug. 2017, when he was still a Detroit Lion, he had a candid conversation about the subject with the city's Free Press newspaper:

"I think it’s just an important conversation to have. I think it’s something that used to not be talked about, but should be and is talked about now to where I would bet (it's discussed) in the majority of people that have wives and kids in their households.

"You hurt a foot or a knee or an ankle and it’s immediate and you feel it and you know, 'OK, now I know it’s better.' That one’s a little bit more unknown. It’s just something that you have to be open and transparent and careful with."

Stafford also relayed how his wife would react to such situations:

"I’m honest with her (about my injuries) and I’ve been lucky in my career to not really ever be diagnosed with one," he added. "But there’s times that she’ll ask me how I’m feeling. 'Hey, I saw you get hit really hard. What’s going on?' Just like any concerned wife, parent, brother or sister would."

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Matthew Stafford's ex-teammate TJ Lang also shared thoughts on concussions and brain trauma with family

In that same article, the Free Press also managed to interview guard TJ Lang, at the time one of Matthew Stafford's teammates, about the same subject.

“My wife knows everything, and I think all the women in my life, my wife, my mom, my sister, all of them panic when they hear about the studies," Lang said.

"But my belief is as players we know what’s on the line with our bodies and it’s a decision we make. We’re well aware of the potential consequences."

He continued by praising the NFL's concussion protocol:

"When I was a young guy and you got your bell rung a little bit, there wasn’t really (one) in place. It was just like, 'Hey, when your head feels better, get back out there.' Now it’s like a mandatory three-, four-day process. A lot of studying, a lot of tests make sure that you’re back to 100% before you put your helmet on again."

Lang managed just one more season in Detroit before being released in 2019 and then retiring. Stafford, meanwhile, remained a Lion until 2021, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff as part of an overhaul under the then-new pair of head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.